Sanitary milk protector



Aug. 11, 1942.

.J. MOLANDER SANITARY MILK I PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 5, 1939 III],

III

ofggdermvswro n efohn ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY MILK PROTECTOR John Molander, Chicago, 111. Application September 5, 1939, Serial No. 293,470

1' Claim. (01. 220 51) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers and sanitary sealing devices.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device that may be detachably secured to a sealed can of the type used for evaporated or condensed milk, or the like, and including means to perforate the top of the can and means to seal the perforations when the can is not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character that will normally have an air tight association with the top of the can to maintain the contents thereof in a sanitary condition.

Still another object of my invention is provide a device of the above-mentioned character that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, that is efficient and efficacious in the performance of its duties.

Other objects and advantages of my invention, will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device, and showing the same associated with a can,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation thereof, showin parts broken away,

Figure 4 is a top plan View of my device,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-45 of Figure 4.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral designates a can of conventional shape and construction having a cylindrical body portion H and transverse upper and lower ends I2 and [3.

My device is adapted to be used in association with the can Ii] and for this purpose the spring clip I4 is provided with the free ends l and I6 thereof adapted to extend more than half way around the can and to resiliently grip the sides thereof,

The spaced brackets l1 and I8 are secured to the clip I4 at substantially the middle thereof and extend vertically upwardly therefrom to terminate in laterally disposed heads [9 and 2|] which normally overhang the end l2 of the can when the clip [4 is positioned in appressed relation with the bead 2|. The plate 35 connects the heads l9 and 2!! and is normally positioned in superimposed relation to the end of the can to hold the clip in engagement with the bead 2|.

The lever 22 is pivotally supported between the brackets l1 and I8 by the integral depending ears 23 and 24 which are journalled on the transverse pivot pin 25. The lever 22 is provided with bifurcations 26 and 21 which extend forwardly from the pivot pin 25 in spaced parallel relation with the end l2 of the can. Depending prongs 28 and 29 are carried by the bifurcations adjacent the ends thereof and the pliant washers 30 and 3| are carried by the prongs 28 and 29 to normally lie flat against the end l2 of the can. The lever 22 is provided with an integral tongue 32 which extends outwardly and downwardly from the can, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. A coil spring 33 is carried by the pivot pin 25 and has the end 34 thereof bearing against the upper surface of the plate 35, and the end 36 thereof bearing against the underside of the tongue 32 to normally hold the washers 3B and 3| in appressed relation with the end of the can.

The operation of my device is as follows: When the spring clip I4 is positioned on the can It], as illustrated in Figure 1, with the upper edge thereof engaging the bead 2| of the end of the can and with the plate 35 in flat superimposed relation with the top surface of the can, the heads I9 and 20 of the brackets will be normally held in appressed relation with the top surface of the can. The manner in which the plate 35, spring clip [4 and heads l9 and 20 of the brackets I1 and I8 cooperate to engage the end of the can will securely hold the device in association with the can. The prongs 28 and 29 depending from the free ends of the bifurcations 26 and'28 may be pressed through the end I2 of the can to make perforations through which the contents of the can may be poured. When the prongs have made the perforations, the washers 3i) and 3|, preferably of sponge rubber or the like, will be positioned in appressed relation with the end of the can to make an air tight connection therewith and to prevent air and dust from having access to the interior of the can.

When it is desired to dispense the contents of the can therefrom, the finger of the user presses downwardly on the end of the tongue 32 to pivotally elevate the bifurcations 26 and 21. As the bifurcations are raised, the prongs 28 and 29 will be lifted from the perforations formed thereby to permit the contents of the can to be easily discharged therefrom. After the desired quantity of the contents of the can have been removed therefrom, the finger of the operator is removed from the tongue 32 to permit the spring 33 to force the prongs back into the perforations and move the washers 30 and 3| into engagement with the upper surface of the can circumjacent to the perforations. The manner in which the clip and the brackets engage the can will prevent the device from normally being displaced circumferentially around the can, and will normally keep the prongs 28 and 29 in alignment with the perforations made thereby.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted .to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A can opener and protecting device comprising 20 a spring clip adapted to embrace and frictionally grip the peripheral side wall of the can, spaced brackets carried by the clip intermediate its ends, the said brackets extending upwardly from the clip and having lateral portions formed. with flat surfaces arranged to overhang the transverse end of the can, a plate mounted transversely between the laterally extending portions of the brackets contiguously with the said flat surfaces in a manner to bear against the end of the can, the plate and the spring clip being adapted to grip the bead of the can therebetween, the essentially broad plane surface of the plate being adapted to permanently hold the said spring clip in pressed relation with the lower edge of the bead, and a lever fulcrumed to the lateral portions of the said brackets above the plate and within the compass of the side Wall of the can, a part of the said lever extending radially of the can and comprising a finger piece and a part comprising bifurcations adapted to overlie the endof the can and provided With depending prongs adapted to pierce the end of the can, the broad fiat surface of the plate constituting a base for solidly supporting the lever during actuation thereof.

JOHN MOLANDER. 

